St. Michael-Albertville takes 2A title

ST. CLOUD (AP) -- Jesse Scherber pitched a complete game, giving up eight hits, as St. Michael-Albertville defeated Montgomery-Lonsdale 8-5 to win the Class AA Championship at Dick Putz Field Friday.

The winning Knights were paced by Dan Anonen, who went two-for-two, including a a double. Teammate Randy Dehmer went two-for-three to help St. Michael-Albertville win its first state baseball title.

The Knights (24-6) jumped ahead of the Red Birds in the top of the second inning on a solo home run by Eric Kolles. Montgomery-Lonsdale (25-3) countered with three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead.

The Knights then scored three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to take a 7-3 lead and control of the game.

Scherber scattered eight hits over seven innnings, allowing five walks and five runs, three of them earned. Red Birds starter Andrew Patricka allowed four hits and four earned runs in four innings for the loss.

Sleepy Eye 4, Lester Prairie 0

CHASKA (AP) -- Cole Deibele threw a three-hitter and went the distance as Sleepy Eye shut out Lester Prairie 4-0 to win the Minnesota Class A state championship at Chaska Athletic Park Friday.

Deibele struck out seven and walked two as the Indians (25-3) won their first state title since 1981. Sleepy Eye was making its fifth appearance in the state tourney.

Second baseman Mike Nachreiner hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning for the final 4-0 score. Loren Havemeier, who went three-for-four, hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth with two runners on to drive in one run, and Bryan Weiss also hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth to drive in the other.

The losing pitcher for Lester Prairie (21-6) was Josh Eckstein. The Bulldogs were making their first appearance in the state tourney. This is the first year the state tournament has been divided into three classes.